88R3208 RDS-D
By: Metcalf H.B. No. 1228
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the right of a property owner or the owner's agent to
receive on request a copy of the information used to appraise the
owner's property for ad valorem tax purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 25.195, Tax Code, is amended by adding
Subsections (a-1) and (c-1) and amending Subsections (d) and (e) to
read as follows:
(a-1) On request by a property owner or the designated agent
of an owner, a chief appraiser shall provide electronically or by
mail at the address designated by the property owner or agent a copy
of the records, supporting data, schedules, and other material and
information the owner or agent is entitled to inspect and copy under
Subsection (a). A chief appraiser may not impose a fee for
providing a copy of records, supporting data, schedules, or other
material or information under this subsection.
(c-1) On request by a property owner or the designated agent
of an owner, a private appraisal firm shall provide electronically
or by mail at the address designated by the property owner or agent
a copy of the information the owner or agent is entitled to inspect
and copy under Subsection (c). A private appraisal firm may not
impose a fee for providing a copy of information under this
subsection.
(d) The appraisal firm shall make information covered by
Subsection (c) available for inspection and copying by the owner or
agent or provide the information as required by Subsection (c-1),
as applicable, not later than the 15th day after the date the owner
or agent delivers a written request to inspect or receive a copy of
the information, unless the owner or agent agrees in writing to a
later date.
(e) If an owner or agent states under oath in a document
filed with an appraisal review board in connection with a
proceeding initiated under Section 25.25 or Chapter 41 that the
applicable appraisal firm has not complied with a request for
inspection or copying under Subsection (c) or a request to receive a
copy of information under Subsection (c-1) related to the property
that is the subject of the proceeding, the board may not conduct a
hearing on the merits of any claim relating to that property and may
not approve the appraisal records relating to that property until
the board determines in a hearing that:
(1) the appraisal firm has made the information
available for inspection and copying as required by Subsection (c)
or has provided the information as required by Subsection (c-1), as
applicable; or
(2) the owner or agent has withdrawn the motion or
protest that initiated the proceeding.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2024.